战争之王

United Kingdom

In 1992 United Kingdom bought a number of T-80U MBTs for purposes of defense research and development. They were not bought officially but through a specially created trading company which was supposed to deliver them to Morocco. The price of five million USD offered for each tank ensured the lack of suspicions from the Russians who realized the situation when the Moroccan Minister of Defense who was in Russia at that time in did not confirm the transaction. By then the tanks were already in British hands. Britain evaluated the tanks on their proving grounds and transferred one to the US where the Americans evaluated it on the Aberdeen Proving Ground. While evaluating the vehicle, The US and UK carefully noted any weak spots and flaws of the T-80U which assisted their agenda of preventing the Russians to successfully sell it to the countries of the Near East and the Middle East. Although the first public appearance of T-80U in Abu Dhabi in 1993 stirred some attention, no tanks were sold as a result of the British deception. In January 1994, British Secretary of State for Defence Jonathan Aitken confirmed in parliamentary debates that a Russian T-80U tank was imported for "defence research and development purposes".[25][26]
[edit]People's Republic of China
In late 1993 Russia signed a contract with PRC about purchase of 200 T-80U MBTs for evaluation. However for unknown reasons only 50 were delivered.[27][28][29]
[edit]Pakistan
Ukrainian exports of the T-80UD have been moderately successful. In 1993 and 1995 Ukraine demonstrated it to Pakistan which was looking for a new MBT. The tank was tested in Pakistan and in August 1996 Pakistan decided to buy 320 T-80UD tanks from Ukraine for $650 million in two variants: a standard Ob'yekt 478B and export Ob'yekt 478BE.[27][30][31][32] The tanks were all supposed to be delivered in 1997 however after the first batch of 15 vehicles were shipped in February 1997, Russia protested that they held the rights to the tank and that Ukraine couldn't export it.[27][30] Nearly 70% of T-80UD components were produced out side of Ukraine (mainly in Russia). Under the disguise of keeping good relations with India, one of its most important military customers, Russia withheld 2A46-2 125 mm smoothbore guns, cast turrets and other technology which forced Ukraine to make its tank industry independent.[32] It developed domestic components, including a welded turret which was in use on the new T-84. Ukraine was able to ship 20 more T-80UD tanks to Pakistan between February and May 1997.[27][30] These 35 tanks were from Ukrainian Army stocks of 52 T-80UDs; they were built in the Malyshev plant several years before but were not delivered to their original destination. Their capabilities were below the standard agreed by both Ukraine and Pakistan.[30] The contract was completed by shipping another 285 Ukrainian T-80UD MBTs between 1997 and early 2002. These had the welded turret and other manufacturing features of the T-84.[27][30]
Its been rumored that Pakistan has supplied some of its T-80UDs along with their crews to the Taliban forces fighting the legal government of Afghanistan. Pakistani government has denied taking part in such an action.[27]
[edit]Cyprus
Cyprus is the first foreign country to officially obtain T-80 tanks. Russia sold 27 T-80U and 14 T-80UK for $174 million to Cyprus in 1996. The tanks arrived in two batches. The first one consisting of 27 T-80U MBTs arrived in 1996 while the second one consisting of 14 T-80UK MBTs arrived in 1997. This significantly reinforced the army of this country the best tank of which up until then was AMX-30B2. New tanks also gave the Cypriot National Guard the edge in a possible confrontation with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. As of now Cypriot government is interested in buying Ukrainian T-84 MBTs as, in the eyes of Cyprus, the Russians have demanded too much money for their T-80 tanks.[27][33][34]
[edit]South Korea
South Korea was given 33 T-80U and 2 T-80UK tanks to pay Russian debts to South Korea incurred during the time of the USSR. The tanks came in three batches; the first was of 6 T-80Us in 1996, followed by 27 T-80Us in 1997, and finally 2 T-80UKs in 2005. Originally, 80 T-80Us were planned.[27][33]
[edit]United States
The US Government obtained one T-80U from the United Kingdom. It was evaluated on Aberdeen Proving Ground.[25] In 2003 Ukraine transferred four T-80UD MBTs over to the US.[35]
[edit]Failed export attempts
Apart from Cyprus and the People's Republic of China,[27][36] Russia has also tried to export T-80 MBTs to Turkey and Greece, the armies of which were at the time looking for new tanks. These two attempts, however, have failed.[27]
[edit]List of operators
The Soviet Union never exported the T-80 tank.
Belarus – There were 95 in service as of 2000 and 92 as of 2003 and 2005.[37] Currently 90 are in service.[27]
Cyprus – 27 T-80Us and 14 T-80UKs were ordered in 1996 from Russia, T-80Us were delivered 1996 and T-80UKs were delivered in 1997.[27][28][33][34]
Kazakhstan - [27]
South Korea – 33 T-80Us were ordered in 1995 from Russia and delivered between 1996 and 1997. 2 T-80UKs were acquired from Russia in 2005.[27][34][38]
Pakistan – 320 T-80UD (Ob'yekt 478B and Ob'yekt 478BE) ordered in 1996 from Ukraine delivered between 1997 and 2002[30].[27][31][32][34]
People's Republic of China – Ordered 200 T-80Us for evaluation in late 1993. 50 delivered.[27][28][29][36]
Russia – 3,144 in active service and around 1,856 in storage as of 1995.[17][18] 3,500 in active service as of 1998.[18] 3,058 in active service and 1,442 in stock as of 2000.[17] 4,500 in both active service and storage as of 2005.[17] 3,044 in active service and 1,456 in storage as of 2008.[18][21] Currently around 1,400 are in active service and less than 3,100 are in storage.[21]
Ukraine – 345 were in service as of 1995, 273 as of 2000 and 271 as of 2005.[39]
Yemen - Bought 31 from Russia in 2000.[40]
A few T-80s were acquired for intelligence purposes.
United Kingdom – Indirectly bought a number of T-80Us for purposes of defense research and development in 1992.[25][26]
United States – Received one T-80U from United Kingdom.[25] US also received four T-80UDs from Ukraine in 2003.[31]
[edit]Former operators
Soviet Union - 1,900 in service as of 1985 and 4,000 as of 1990.[17] 4839 during the breakup of the USSR.[18] Passed on to successor states.

United Kingdom

In 1992 United Kingdom bought a number of T-80U MBTs for purposes of defense research and development. They were not bought officially but through a specially created trading company which was supposed to deliver them to Morocco. The price of five million USD offered for each tank ensured the lack of suspicions from the Russians who realized the situation when the Moroccan Minister of Defense who was in Russia at that time in did not confirm the transaction. By then the tanks were already in British hands. Britain evaluated the tanks on their proving grounds and transferred one to the US where the Americans evaluated it on the Aberdeen Proving Ground. While evaluating the vehicle, The US and UK carefully noted any weak spots and flaws of the T-80U which assisted their agenda of preventing the Russians to successfully sell it to the countries of the Near East and the Middle East. Although the first public appearance of T-80U in Abu Dhabi in 1993 stirred some attention, no tanks were sold as a result of the British deception. In January 1994, British Secretary of State for Defence Jonathan Aitken confirmed in parliamentary debates that a Russian T-80U tank was imported for "defence research and development purposes".[25][26]
[edit]People's Republic of China
In late 1993 Russia signed a contract with PRC about purchase of 200 T-80U MBTs for evaluation. However for unknown reasons only 50 were delivered.[27][28][29]
[edit]Pakistan
Ukrainian exports of the T-80UD have been moderately successful. In 1993 and 1995 Ukraine demonstrated it to Pakistan which was looking for a new MBT. The tank was tested in Pakistan and in August 1996 Pakistan decided to buy 320 T-80UD tanks from Ukraine for $650 million in two variants: a standard Ob'yekt 478B and export Ob'yekt 478BE.[27][30][31][32] The tanks were all supposed to be delivered in 1997 however after the first batch of 15 vehicles were shipped in February 1997, Russia protested that they held the rights to the tank and that Ukraine couldn't export it.[27][30] Nearly 70% of T-80UD components were produced out side of Ukraine (mainly in Russia). Under the disguise of keeping good relations with India, one of its most important military customers, Russia withheld 2A46-2 125 mm smoothbore guns, cast turrets and other technology which forced Ukraine to make its tank industry independent.[32] It developed domestic components, including a welded turret which was in use on the new T-84. Ukraine was able to ship 20 more T-80UD tanks to Pakistan between February and May 1997.[27][30] These 35 tanks were from Ukrainian Army stocks of 52 T-80UDs; they were built in the Malyshev plant several years before but were not delivered to their original destination. Their capabilities were below the standard agreed by both Ukraine and Pakistan.[30] The contract was completed by shipping another 285 Ukrainian T-80UD MBTs between 1997 and early 2002. These had the welded turret and other manufacturing features of the T-84.[27][30]
Its been rumored that Pakistan has supplied some of its T-80UDs along with their crews to the Taliban forces fighting the legal government of Afghanistan. Pakistani government has denied taking part in such an action.[27]
[edit]Cyprus
Cyprus is the first foreign country to officially obtain T-80 tanks. Russia sold 27 T-80U and 14 T-80UK for $174 million to Cyprus in 1996. The tanks arrived in two batches. The first one consisting of 27 T-80U MBTs arrived in 1996 while the second one consisting of 14 T-80UK MBTs arrived in 1997. This significantly reinforced the army of this country the best tank of which up until then was AMX-30B2. New tanks also gave the Cypriot National Guard the edge in a possible confrontation with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. As of now Cypriot government is interested in buying Ukrainian T-84 MBTs as, in the eyes of Cyprus, the Russians have demanded too much money for their T-80 tanks.[27][33][34]
[edit]South Korea
South Korea was given 33 T-80U and 2 T-80UK tanks to pay Russian debts to South Korea incurred during the time of the USSR. The tanks came in three batches; the first was of 6 T-80Us in 1996, followed by 27 T-80Us in 1997, and finally 2 T-80UKs in 2005. Originally, 80 T-80Us were planned.[27][33]
[edit]United States
The US Government obtained one T-80U from the United Kingdom. It was evaluated on Aberdeen Proving Ground.[25] In 2003 Ukraine transferred four T-80UD MBTs over to the US.[35]
[edit]Failed export attempts
Apart from Cyprus and the People's Republic of China,[27][36] Russia has also tried to export T-80 MBTs to Turkey and Greece, the armies of which were at the time looking for new tanks. These two attempts, however, have failed.[27]
[edit]List of operators
The Soviet Union never exported the T-80 tank.
Belarus – There were 95 in service as of 2000 and 92 as of 2003 and 2005.[37] Currently 90 are in service.[27]
Cyprus – 27 T-80Us and 14 T-80UKs were ordered in 1996 from Russia, T-80Us were delivered 1996 and T-80UKs were delivered in 1997.[27][28][33][34]
Kazakhstan - [27]
South Korea – 33 T-80Us were ordered in 1995 from Russia and delivered between 1996 and 1997. 2 T-80UKs were acquired from Russia in 2005.[27][34][38]
Pakistan – 320 T-80UD (Ob'yekt 478B and Ob'yekt 478BE) ordered in 1996 from Ukraine delivered between 1997 and 2002[30].[27][31][32][34]
People's Republic of China – Ordered 200 T-80Us for evaluation in late 1993. 50 delivered.[27][28][29][36]
Russia – 3,144 in active service and around 1,856 in storage as of 1995.[17][18] 3,500 in active service as of 1998.[18] 3,058 in active service and 1,442 in stock as of 2000.[17] 4,500 in both active service and storage as of 2005.[17] 3,044 in active service and 1,456 in storage as of 2008.[18][21] Currently around 1,400 are in active service and less than 3,100 are in storage.[21]
Ukraine – 345 were in service as of 1995, 273 as of 2000 and 271 as of 2005.[39]
Yemen - Bought 31 from Russia in 2000.[40]
A few T-80s were acquired for intelligence purposes.
United Kingdom – Indirectly bought a number of T-80Us for purposes of defense research and development in 1992.[25][26]
United States – Received one T-80U from United Kingdom.[25] US also received four T-80UDs from Ukraine in 2003.[31]
[edit]Former operators
Soviet Union - 1,900 in service as of 1985 and 4,000 as of 1990.[17] 4839 during the breakup of the USSR.[18] Passed on to successor states.